Doesn’t mein meri patni aur woh sound something similar to Pati, Pani aur woh? The difference gramatically is first person and third person. And the fact that it could mean one man two women, two men after one woman, or none or both!! But gives a flavour of forbidden ground of infidielity.Is it so? Is it not so?
Released in 2005, this movie has Rajpal Yadav, Rituparna Sengupta, Varun Badola, Kay Kay Menon as the main starcast. Set up in Lucknow, a city, where Tehezeeb is given much more importance, you would find Mithilesh Shukla (Rajpal Yaadav) leading a simple and normal lifestyle without much excitement. Apne Shukla ji bade simple sajjan hein - he has one scooter, staying in staff quarters given by the Lucknow University where he is working as a Librarian. His pretty stable life takes a turn when he is forced by his mamaji to meet a girl for marriage. Toh ji huva aise ki ladke waale lucknow se Rai Barelli pahunchte hein ladki dekhne. You could see the embarassment and agony (which every guy in real life goes through) when he meets the girl’s huge (it becomes joint family all of a sudden) family and there is swaagat satkaar for him. Its always an event in India, where a guy is compulsorily made to eat a lot, given a place to stay and is almost treated as future groom already. Humaare Mithilesh ji bhi kaise bach paate?
Entry: the most attractive girl in the room "Veena" (Rituparna Sengupta) acompanied by another girl (now why can’t a girl directly walk into the room, lagta hai gir jaayegi wax ki gudiya). Of course, she is attractive and slightly taller to him. And he doesn’t look at her much...arre any decent guy in today’s time would not stare at the girl as he is scanned by every other elder member in the room. Hena. Sometime later, they are given "that" private place to "know each other" in the form of tea time at their garden. It is where Veena comes to know what a simple person our Mithilesh ji is when replies to her prank kinda question"aapko khaana banaana aata hai " with a honest answer of "banaa letaa hoon, par rotiyaa gol nahi banti" . They talk about various topics and when Mithilesh says that he wants to befriend her because she is a nice person and he really liked talking to her, she takes an instant liking for him and agrees to marry him.
Riti Riwaaz and marriage(and a song) later, a happy and in-love couple slowly settle down in Lucknow. However, Mithilesh finds his wife being greeted and treated too kindly the by the doodhwala, subjiwaala, autowaala with that " aaao bhabhiji" culture. If you are staying in North, you would understand what I am trying to say. The Bhabhi ji is given much attention and the jodi is compared "bhaiyyaji ke liye toh itni achchi bhabhi ji mil gayi.". Even his best friend Salim (Varun Badola) compliments her with "mashaallah itni sundar hein aap, aap koi choti behen hai toh humein milaaiye". Mithilesh shuns each of them away by buying milk and subzi at reliance store(or something similar), asks Veena to tie Raakhi and make Salim her Raakhi brother. Already conscious of his height, he elevates the seat of the scooter too to appear taller than his wife when he gives a ride to her.
Some peace enters his mind when all of a sudden Aakash (Key Key Menon) becomes the next door neighbour. He was what Mithilesh doesn’t want to see - tall, good-looking, funny, smart and worst of all Veena’s college friend. Add to this, he starts doubting that both have an affair. What happens next is for you to watch.
STARCAST
Rajpal Yadav -People who are not too much of movie bluff may not remember leading actors, but would never forget Parsh Rawal, Anupam kher or even Rajpal Yaadav - the great comedian. Uski simplicity ne usko inta dur pahunchaaya, he decided to cash on the opportunity. He plays the role of Mithilesh so well that it is not difficult to find the real Mithilesh in him. Watch him calling the girl "veena ji" or not looking at her while talking because he is not used to interacting much with the opposite gender.
Rituparna Sengupta- I wonder if she got this role for her height. It is my personal opinion that she has done a better job in this than Anranan. Not convinced? Watch it and then form an opinion. I wish, she had an equally good voice. She is quite smart and knows how to change the topic :) watch her asking Mithilesh "bade kapde notice kar rahe hein, acha ataaiye maine kal kya pehenaa tha." And she is what every guy would want in a Bhabhi "arre, aisa kyun sochte ho, yeh toh tumhaara hi ghar hai, aate jaate raho"
KK Menon- I never considered him as one of the good-looking men till I watched this movie. He is what any girl want a guy to be and what every simple guy envies. Watch him talking to evey guy right from the principal of the college to the salesperson at the Maruti shop...there is a businessyet friendly kind of a tone he uses.
Varun Badola- I’ve seen his performance in a serial called "astitva ek prem katha". Perhaps he got the role of a friend when the serial was high on popularity charts. His dialogues bring life to the atmosphere, and he is perfect for the role of Salim.
SONGS
I don’t think too may songs were a hit, but of all "doob jaana re.." is a beautiful song and worth checking out. It reflects the moment when a boy and a girl agree to get married and dream about each other just before marriage. "Yeh zamaana humse hai.." is more popular though.
My OPINION
Perfect for every newly married couple whose taste in movies are different, this one appeals to all kinds of audience. If you are fond of any of the starcast or even have liked UP and UPiites, this one is tailor-made for you. Funny as it may sound, all my closest friends hail from UP, so I appreciate this one a lot.